R. L. Griffin was
born in 1943 in Kilgore, Texas. He formed his first group, The
Fabulous Corvettes and released two sides with Griffin singing lead
on "Goodbye Baby". "If I Didn't Know Better" and "Iíll Follow You"
came out on Big Bo Thomas' Gay-Shel label with the Arrows in 1964.
After leaving the Arrows to pursue a solo career, he often worked
with Freddie King, who also came from east Texas. He took Bobby
Bland as an early model and later became friendly with Z.Z. Hill. In
1979, he recorded extensively with Al ĎTNTí Braggs as his producer,
with Braggsí brother James, Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones and Smokiní Joe
Kubek playing guitar on various tracks. A number of singles were
released on the Classic label, including "There Is Something On Your
Min", "It Donít Have To Be This Way" and "I Donít Think Iím Going To
Make It". Griffin opened his first club, the Blues Alley, in 1985,
later changing its name to the Blues Palace, which is still active
today. In 1993 Black Grape released his first LP, "It Don't Have
To be This Way". In 1999 he self-released the now obscure "Too
Hot To Stop" album, which featured Lucky Peterson followed by "Step"
in 2001.

In a 1999 interview
with Southwest Blues Magazine Griffin also said: "I did a complete
album with Al Braggs and Earnest Davis called "I Got to Go On".
Joe Kubek was on that album. He played lead guitar on Something On
Your Mind and all that stuff. I also put out a tape called "I
Want To Be Rich" that eventually ended up on a CD in England.
That came about through Junior Boy Jones playing with Charlie
Musselwhite overseas. The guy had one of my records and Junior was
over there and made the contact. They sent me some songs they wanted
me to do and I did some covers. They said whatever I put out in the
blues they were looking for my type of voice. I still have some of
those left."

Album Discography

"It Don't Have To Be This Way" (Black Grape 1993)

1 There Is Something
On Your Mind 4:50
2 I Don't Think I'm Gonna Make It 2:41
3 It Don't Have To Be This Way 4:04
4 Are You Lonely For Me Baby 2:48
5 I Smell Trouble 4:22
6 Baby Work Out 3:26
7 A Woman, A Lover, A Friend 4:30
8 Just The One I've Been Looking For 3:18
9 Bringing My Love Down 3:31
10 Cry Cry Cry 3:42
11 You Gotta Be Foolin' You 3:40
12 Heaven Help The Blind Man 3:50
13 I Wanna Be Rich 4:24
14 Can I Talk To You 6:00
15 Playin' Me Crazy 5:23
16 Just A Little Bit 4:52
17 Got To Go On 4:01

"Too Hot To Drop"
(1999)

Info needed on
this album

"Step" (Blues Palace 2001)

This album was re-issued by Dallas
Record Store Forever Young Records as "Believe In Me" in the
past decade